The City Inside

by Samit Basu

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The City Inside is an interesting and densely written near-future dystopian reality SF novel by Samit Basu. Originally published in India in 2020 as Chosen Spirits , this reformat and re-release by Simon & Schuster on their Tor imprint is 256 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback release is due out from the same publisher in second quarter 2023. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a very intricate and densely layered fictional world. It's a difficult read in places due to the dreamlike, angry, and nuanced narrative. It's meandering and definitely a book to be experienced rather than read specifically for the story, which is not at all linear. Although a difficult read, the quality of the writing is very high and the author was not on my radar in any way previously. I appreciate Tor.com for their efforts publishing and promoting gifted international authors to English speaking audiences. 

This is a worthwhile but not simple read, from an author who is clearly talented and who has a clear vision. My view during the read was not entirely unobstructed, but I am certainly intrigued enough to read more of the author's fiction. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours, 16 minutes and is capably narrated by Reena Dutt. She has a versatile and soothing voice and enunciates clearly and well. The sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Three and a half stars. Intriguing and complex. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.